This is a tour of Kerala for people looking for a quick introduction to Kerala. The tour covers the main highlights of Kerala and includes the port city of Cochin, tea estates of Munnar, wildlife in Periyar, the backwaters of Alleppey and the beaches at Kovalam. This tour of 8 nights can be easily extended to make the tour more relaxed or if you would like to spend a few nights on the beach at the end.

Day 1 Cochin

Arrive Cochin in the morning. You will be met and transferred to your hotel for 2 nights. Afternoon at leisure to explore the old quarters. Evening enjoy a sunset cruise around the harbor.

Day 2 Cochin

Enjoy a tour of Fort Cochin and Mattencherry. You could chose to do the tour in a car, auto rickshaw or on cycles. The experience that you have on these different modes of transport will be different. Evening enjoy a Kathakali dance perforance.

Day 3 Cochin-Munnar

Drive to Munnar in the morning. The scenic drive will be along the tea estates and other plantations. On arrival check-into your hotel for the night. Afternoon enjoy a tour of the high ranges. This will include the Tea Museum, Mattupetty dam, view points and the market in town

Day 4 Munnar-Madurai

Morning drive to the temple town of Madurai where you stay for the night. Afternoon visit the Meenakshi temple; the huge temple complex with its decorated towers is the centre of all ritual and commerce that happens in this ancient city. The 17th century Nayak Palace is another architectural marvel. The flower and clothes bazaar around the temple complex is an ideal place to try your bargaining skilss.

Day 5 Madurai-Thekkady

Drive to the Periyar National Park, Thekkady Stay here for 2 nights. Afternoon you have the option of doing a boatride on the lake or visiting a spice plantation. The shared public boats on the lake is the most common and popular way of spotting wildlife.

Day 6 Thekkady

Day at leisure You could go for a jungle walk with tribal trackers or do a full day bamboo rafting program in the park. This program includes hike as well as rafting. The walk is for about 2-3 hours whereas the rafting is a dawn to dusk progtram.

Day 7 Thekkady-Kumarakom

Drive down to Kumarakom Stay at a Backwater Resort for the night. The Resorts have fine dining, pool and Ayurvedic center. You could go for a canoe cruise in a country boat or a day cruise in the traditional Riceboat, explore the village on a cycle of indulge at the ayurvedic center.

Day 8 Kumarakom-Mararikulam

Late morning a short drive to the fishing hamlet at Mararikulam. Stay at one of the Beach Resort for 2 nights.

Day 9 Mararikulam

At leisure on the beach

Day 10 Mararikulam-Cochin

Morning drive to Cochin airport (2 hours) to board your onward flight.